Farzad Azimpour, MD

• University of Minnesota
  Cardiovascular Disease Fellow
• Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Austin

I chose Cleveland Clinic for world-class training in internal medicine and research, ultimately as a springboard to a competitive fellowship in cardiovascular medicine.

With my residency application submitted, I had rotated at 3 of the nation’s top 10 cardiovascular institutions, all emphasizing the seemingly logical yet critical lesson of an "all-systems" approach to patient-care. I knew then to focus on training at the institution with the highest-ranked subspecialty programs in the nation. It is widely known that Cleveland Clinic residents witness the developmental phases of cutting-edge treatments in all specialties, and most importantly, their application to medical and surgical practice. From this unique setting, clinicians who train here develop confidence in more straightforward cases, and progressive approaches to otherwise complicated cases.

The Internal Medicine Residency Program in particular takes educational media beyond what you would expect to find elsewhere. From the provided gold-standard handbooks and downloadable video “podcasts,” to innovative lectures from world-renowned pioneers of medicine and surgery, the program continuously updates a comprehensive plan to build a strong medical knowledge-base.

Given the expected time-constraints of any resident, Cleveland Clinic's facilities create a real sense of balance for the workplace. With an outstanding library, top-notch coffee, great food, and covered garage parking, Cleveland Clinic has all the components for a productive and cohesive work environment.

Coming from Houston, Texas was a big geographical leap, but adapting to life in Cleveland took a matter of weeks. With my clinical years of medical school in Austin , Texas , I was surrounded by unlimited choices for restaurants, nightlife, concerts, college-sports, and of course, the outdoors. I quickly found many of these here in and around the Cleveland area. Scenic trails for hiking, running, and cycling are always near with an extensive network of “MetroParks” circling greater Cleveland. For those who enjoy the occasional night out, there are always groups of residents ready to unwind, and new places to explore.

The bottom line is that residency here is challenging, character-building, and highly rewarding. All things considered, the best decision I made was to rank Cleveland Clinic #1.

H. Michael Bolooki, MD

• University of Minnesota
  Cardiovascular Disease Fellow
• Medical School: University of Miami School of Medicine
• Outside Interests: Running, Mountain Biking, Music, and Computers

The opportunities that presented themselves during my training were numerous. The diversity and complexity of patients provided me with a unique and unparalleled educational experience. Training at one of the leading academic centers in the country has distinct advantages and has definitely launched many careers both academic and non-academic alike. Herein lays one of the many beauties of Cleveland Clinic. It is an institution that can train outstanding residents for careers in Internal Medicine while also preparing the same for many different subspecialty fellowships. Graduates leaving Cleveland Clinic have many employment as well as fellowship opportunities. The program’s match success is partly due to the world renowned reputation of Cleveland Clinic and the quality of physicians it trains.

Having come from Florida, it was a daunting task at first to convince my wife that Cleveland would be a great place for both of us. After three years, she was finally convinced that I was right. We even added an additional year to our time in Cleveland for my appointment as Chief Medical Resident. Cleveland is a very livable city and has much to offer. There are a lot of neighborhoods to choose from with ample affordable housing. From the downtown nightlife to concerts in the park, we never ran out of things to do.

Even though I’ve left Cleveland Clinic for my Cardiology fellowship with the University of Minnesota, I will always look back on my time here fondly. I believe the training that I received here in Internal Medicine has laid the framework for excellence in the rest of my medical career. I hope you will join the program here at Cleveland Clinic to begin to build the foundation for your future.

Arti Choure, MD

• Cleveland Clinic
  Cardiovascular Disease Fellow
• Medical School: Padmashree DR. D.Y. Patil Medical College for Women
• Outside Interests: Swimming, Reading and Travel

Cleveland Clinic is a great place for residency training. When it comes to choosing a residency program in internal medicine, most of us look for a program that can offer exposure to most of broad based clinical pathologies, good faculty members who look forward to teach and interact with you, and opportunity of subspecialty training if interested among other things. Cleveland Clinic internal medicine program has all of that to offer and much more. It is one of the nation’s top hospitals with a huge diversity of patients and pathologies. The faculty members are well seasoned clinicians as well as great researchers. In fact it has been a house for some of the major trials in medicine. Everything that could be possibly done for a patient can be done here. And the most amazing part is that most of these resources are available at a resident’s disposal.

The opportunity for subspecialty training is not less superior to any other program in the country. Research opportunities are immense and you can choose to do either clinical or basic science research and find top tier mentors in their respective fields.

Our program director and chiefs go extra length to ensure work hour compliance. We even have a program run cab service for tired post call residents. Each of us is assigned a mentor to help us guide through our residency training. Our longitudinal clinics are always fun and an interesting mix of common ‘bread and butter’ medicine. It is amazing to see how some of the most astute and busiest physicians take time and extra efforts to teach the residents. Resident didactics are taken very seriously and occur very regularly even in the busiest rotations like the medical intensive care unit. Our exceptional morning reports, noon conferences, grand rounds and journal clubs ensure that residents are well prepared for the medicine boards as well as help honing the clinical skills learned on the floors.

Our house staff association is extremely active and helps residents have a life outside their busy schedules; from arranging discounted game tickets to annual cruise and comedy shows. Cleveland is a great place to be, has reasonable housing and lots of activities including world famous museums and scenic islands in the vicinity.

I consider myself privileged to have the opportunity to train here at Cleveland Clinic under some of the world’s best known clinicians. I am immensely satisfied by my training here as an intern and I feel that it has prepared me well enough for my future career.

Aaron Doonan, MD

• University of Minnesota
  Cardiovascular Disease Fellow
• Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine
• Outside Interest: Movies, Sports, Producing Music

At first glance, Cleveland Clinic's Internal Medicine residency program looks similar to other top-tier residencies in the country. We have a competitive salary, great benefits, and supportive administrative staff. However, it wasn’t until my first month here that I realized the incredible opportunities available both during residency and beyond. Virtually every specialty and sub-specialty has world-renowned faculty in their respective fields. The people publishing the groundbreaking research in the top journals are the same mentors that teach every day on the wards or in the lecture halls. Despite this incredible wealth of intellectual fervor, I have found everyone approachable and willing to help with career advice or to support various projects.

Cleveland Clinic treats a wonderfully diverse population of pathology and patients from around the globe. This affords the opportunity to see and treat rare conditions shoulder-to-shoulder, and very much hands-on, with the experts in the field, something that might not happen in other programs. I have also seen the traditional internal medicine diseases that define the questions found on the boards, so I feel prepared for any patient I might encounter after residency. Our teaching extends from weekly electrocardiogram sessions to traditional conferences, grand rounds, journal clubs, and, most importantly, the bedside.

Although any internal medicine residency will require an investment of time, Cleveland Clinic believes in life continuing outside the program. Our program director has gone to great lengths to ensure compliance with guidelines on work hours. As a result, my colleagues and I have ample opportunity to explore the city of Cleveland and to pursue our hobbies. From Playhouse Square to Lake Erie, Cleveland has something to offer for everyone. My personal favorite as a music fan is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but professional football, baseball, basketball, and hockey are a close second. Also, even though we are a large residency program, we have several gatherings a year so that no one feels lost in the numbers, important for someone from a small Kansas town. The message here is that our program affords you the opportunity to pursue your career in whatever form you choose while being able to maintain your life outside medicine. Personally, I would have it no other way.

Having been raised in western New York I had, on occasion, encountered people who, for one reason or another, been treated at Cleveland Clinic for conditions thought too complicated or procedures too risky to be done elsewhere. It wasn’t long into my internship that I began to realize why. I have had the opportunity to work along with and learn from physicians at the top of there field, yet interested and willing to take the time to teach the students, residents and fellows with whom they work. Cleveland Clinic has the advantage, as a tertiary care center, to draw from a very diverse patient base. Their is never a shortage of rare and interesting pathology interspersed with the common diseases all IM residents should be comfortable treating. This advantage provides residents with the necessary exposure to choose the next step in their career, whether fellowship or primary care, wisely.

Living in Cleveland has been a pleasant surprise. If you enjoy outdoor activities, Cleveland provides excellent hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and affordable golf facilities. For those less adventurous, the theater and restaurant scene are excellent. An advantage of being a large program is you can always find others with similar interests to explore the city and find your niche. The house staff association also does an excellent job of providing the residents with discounted tickets to baseball and basketball games as well as theater and many other activities.

Choosing a residency program can be very difficult. You can be confident that at Cleveland Clinic you will have every opportunity to be the very best physician you can be and yet have ample opportunity to enjoy life away from the hospital as well. I have no reservations on recommending the clinic to anyone interested.

Joseph Hackler, DO

• Cleveland Clinic
  Internal Medicine
• Medical School: Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

As a fourth year medical student at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine I had plenty of questions to answer. Where to finish my medical training? Where to settle down with my wife? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? Pondering these questions led me to apply to many wonderful Internal Medicine Residency Programs, but in the end, none compared to the Cleveland Clinic.

Cleveland Clinic offered everything I wanted and more. Where else can you find a world-class hospital, access to friendly specialists who set the standard in the field of choice, top-flight professional sports franchises, and many other activities to fill your hearts content? For me, the answer was nowhere.

The medical training Cleveland Clinic offers its residents is second-to-none. Cases range from simple medical issues to those that are too complex for most hospitals. Opportunities abound daily to care for a multitude of issues, which in the end prepares each and every resident to be not only a good physician, but a physician capable of being a leader in his or her field.

Outside of the hospital, there are many fun activities that Cleveland has to offer. From the Cleveland Browns, Indians, and Cavaliers to Little Italy or the Cleveland Orchestra, there is always something to do. As I think back to the questions I was forced to answer, I know I answered them correctly. I believe Cleveland Clinic will offer me great opportunities in residency and beyond.

Frank Marrero, MD

• Cleveland Clinic
  Gastroenterology Fellow
• Medical School: University of Massachusetts
• Outside Interests: Family, Music, History

Training at Cleveland Clinic has been a truly rewarding experience. I believe that we have one of the best residency programs in the country. We are a large, yet, intimate program that affords residents the opportunity to pursue whatever their interests may be. There are innumerable possibilities when it comes to pursuing clinical or basic-science research. Our expert primary and subspecialty clinicians are readily accessible, passionately involved in resident education, and always willing to involve residents in their ground-breaking research.

Our broad-based exposure to tertiary care affords us the opportunity to see a wide variety of rare but fascinating pathology. In addition, we have no shortage “bread-and-butter” cases due to our service to the local community. We have the latest diagnostic and therapeutic technology at our fingertips should we need it, yet we focus on practicing cost-effective, evidence-based medicine. This diverse learning environment is intellectually stimulating, a great way to learn medicine, non-malignant, and fun. Our residents have paramount success in matching into competitive fellowships or finding great positions in primary care or hospital medicine.

Living in Cleveland has been wonderful. There are a lot of neighborhoods to choose from with ample affordable housing. Our house staff association is extremely active and always plans fun, inexpensive outings for the entire family. There are lots of things to do in Cleveland from the downtown nightlife to concerts in the park. I never run out of fun things to do with my family.

I completed my internal medicine residency and was a Chief Medical Resident at Cleveland Clinic. I am now in my second year of a gastroenterology fellowship, also at Cleveland Clinic. I am proud to be a member of this academic community. If I could go back and change anything about my postgraduate training, I wouldn't change a thing.

Chaim Moeller, MD

• Cleveland Clinic
  Hospitalist
• Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine

Rotating through the various specialties and subspecialties as a medical student, I came to realize that I wanted to be a physician who had developed at least a basic level of competence at diagnosing and treating the whole patient. While many of my rotations were fun and exciting, none afforded me the breadth and simultaneous depth of knowledge as Internal Medicine. At The University of Maryland’s School of Medicine, I was granted a host of fabulous experiences in many different fields, but the physicians who I felt were the best suited to address any medical problems were those who began their career with an Internal Medicine residency. As such, I decided to pursue a residency in Internal Medicine. While I hope to eventually specialize, I am confident that establishing my roots in Internal Medicine will allow me to be a physician of, “the whole adult,” with skills far broader than my area of expertise.

As I explored residency options and tried to tease apart the many excellent programs I interviewed at, there were a number of things that made Cleveland Clinic stand out. When I came to interview, I learned that many of the attending physicians on the various services at Cleveland Clinic are leaders in their respective fields, and are also excellent teachers who avail themselves to the house staff and are readily available to assist with clinical and research advice. The medicine services at Cleveland Clinic include a few general internal medicine services, but also include those that are specific to various subspecialty areas, such as GI, Cardiology, Hem/Onc, Nephrology, Vascular Medicine, and Palliative Medicine. This provides the medical staff with the unique opportunity to rotate on services that are being staffed by experts in the specific organ system that the patients’ chief complaints revolve around. It further ensures that the resident learns, module by module, how to best diagnose and treat diseases of the various organ systems and best address the specific needs of various patient populations. My decision to train at Cleveland Clinic was based on these facts, as well as the collegial environment, and friendly atmosphere. From the Program Director to the interns, I was impressed by the openly warm manner in which staff members interacted with one another.

I consider myself fortunate to be learning and developing my skills as a physician in one of the best hospitals in the world with one of the most complex and diverse patient populations. I have found that my expectations of collegiality, education, access to leaders in various fields, and overall growth as a physician have been surpassed in many ways. Cleveland Clinic strives to provide "World Class Care" for its patients, and I can testify that Cleveland Clinic's Internal Medicine Residency Program fulfills this goal entirely, affording its staff "World Class Training."

Purvi Parikh, MD

Medical School: Saint George's University

People are products of the environment that they are exposed to. Similarly, physicians are a product of the environment they are trained in. That’s why, when I was choosing a residency, I chose Cleveland Clinic.

Transferring here in my second year gave me the opportunity to compare my residency experience at Cleveland Clinic to that in another reputable university program. I was immediately struck by the strong ancillary support staff which allowed me to spend more time taking care of patients and focusing on medicine, rather than transporting patients or drawing blood.

Second, I was amazed at how easy it was to get involved in research projects that were not only cutting edge, but with some of the leaders in that specific field. For example, the NIH approached my mentor at Cleveland Clinic to test their H1N1 vaccine on severe asthmatics during a rampant pandemic. My research mentor allowed me to be a principal investigator in this study. Not only did I learn an immense amount about clinical trials and asthma, but these results will have a direct impact on not only my patients, but the entire worldwide asthma community. That made me feel a sense of purpose. Not many residents can say that they had the opportunity to have such a role in a government funded multi-center clinical trial.

Third, I was impressed by the access that we had to so many of the pioneers in various fields. I learned cardiology from the doctors who wrote the AHA guidelines for myocardial infarction and heart failure. Moreover, our noon conferences are conducted by leaders/pioneers in every specialty so everyone has the opportunity to interact and gain an immense wealth of knowledge. In medicine, you learn by experience and volume.

Finally, the acuity of Cleveland Clinic patients on our general medicine floors parallels those of ICU patients elsewhere. Once you have completed these rotations you will feel confident handling almost any medical situation. Your training will set good habits for you future career. Cleveland Clinic gives you the opportunities in strong clinical training as well as academic research to form habits which will make you a good physician.

Hataya Kristy Poonyagariyagorn, MD

• Johns Hopkins
  Pulmonary Critical Care Fellow
• Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York, NY
• Outside Interests: Classic piano, Thai Classical Dance, Sports (basketball, football), NASCAR

Residency training should provide learning opportunities with the best and brightest educators, and Cleveland Clinic's Internal Medicine Residency Program has certainly exceeded all of my expectations. I was drawn to this institution because of the exceptional training the residency program could provide in the setting of a truly special hospital consistently regarded as one of the best in the country. The training I have received here has been unparalleled as I have been able to treat diverse and complex patients while seeing a spectrum of common and rare diseases. Furthermore, the learning environment is enriched by staff physicians who are leaders in their respective fields and dedicated to the education of residents. Needless to say, research opportunities are bountiful and residents are easily able to avail themselves of this resource. The camaraderie amongst the residents along with a collegial work environment was a treasure I happily encountered and I know will continue.

Residents at Cleveland Clinic not only receive superior medical training but are also involved in research at the forefront of medicine. Researchers are always welcoming new resident ideas and including us in novel projects, ranging from basic science to clinical trials. In an environment with the most cutting-edge technology available, many residents have published as first authors in leading journals as well as presented at national conferences. Such achievements have not only strengthened a resident's application for future academic positions but have also helped advance them for fellowship training.

Residents will continue to be an integral component of the special health care that Cleveland Clinic provides. All graduates of our residency program are fully prepared to be invaluable members of the medical community. Learning at this institution takes place in a uniquely challenging yet comfortable environment, and I am confident that my internal medicine training has prepared me well for my future pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship.

Dale Shepard, MD

• Cleveland Clinic
  Hematology/Oncology Staff
• Medical School: Ohio State University

I chose the Internal Medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic after spending three years here as a medical student in a collaborative arrangement with Ohio State University, completed my residency, and am now a second year Hematology/Medical Oncology fellow. The strength of an internal medicine program and an institution rests on the combined strengths of the individual programs and the level of interaction between the medical and surgical subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic has numerous nationally and internationally recognized medical and surgical subspecialties. Throughout my time as a medical student, resident, and now as a fellow, I have found the attendings, who are often leaders in their fields, to be accessible to discuss clinical management of patients or to explain an important principle. There is a research requirement as a component of the residency program and these same physicians are also very accommodating with project. It is no accident that the residents from this program are very actively involved in research and have a tremendous publication record, including first author papers in The New England Journal of Medicine. I was able to publish my research and present at a national meeting. The ability to interact with such high caliber physicians on a regular basis is also invaluable for residents as they decide on subspecialties and for assistance with the fellowship application process.

During my time as a resident, I had the opportunity to give dozens of tours to residency applicants. Cleveland Clinic was sometimes perceived, initially, as a surgical hospital with too many fellows. Cleveland Clinic is, without question, a leader in surgical innovation and there are certainly many of us here as fellows, but this provides a very rich opportunity for internal medicine residents. It is very uncommon that a patient comes to Cleveland Clinic, even for surgery, without many associated medical problems, some of them very unique. This provides a wealth of clinical opportunities for internal medicine residents who see these patients in outpatient clinics or in the hospital, often with specialists who are among the best in their fields. Many of my most interesting patients were ones that came to Cleveland Clinic for surgery. The surgical strength of the hospital becomes an opportunity to see a vast array of diseases. The number of fellows here at Cleveland Clinic points to the strength of the medical subspecialties. Residents are given every opportunity to manage patients in the hospital and do procedures, but have the fellows for support and to provide additional teaching.

One of the things I like best about Cleveland Clinic is that it is in Cleveland. Cleveland is a great city to live in during training. There is a very low cost of living, the people are friendly, and there are plenty of things to do and see. I had 2 of my 6 children while a resident and I find this a great place to live. There are major league sports, a world class orchestra, and an extensive park system. I have been a member of the House Staff Association for 4 years and we work hard to organize activities for residents.

In brief, Cleveland Clinic is a great place to do your internal medicine training.

Rachel Taliercio, DO

• Cleveland Clinic
  Pulmonary Critical Care Fellow
• Medical School: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of the NYIT, New York
• Outside Interests: Travel, reading, exercise, and spending time with family and friends

When I talk to former graduates of our program who are both settled into their careers or have continued onto fellowship at outside hospitals, I consistently hear how they are now even more grateful for their Internal Medicine training and for all of the opportunities Cleveland Clinic provided them. The education you receive at Cleveland Clinic has a profound impact on your professional life and this positive influence resonates well past graduation. As a tertiary medical center and one of the largest academic institutions in the Midwest, the clinic provides trainees with a diverse patient population as well as access to the most advanced practice and technology. One of the many advantages to training at our institution is the opportunity to work alongside physicians who are considered worldwide experts in their respective fields. The faculty is dedicated to providing outstanding resident education and patient care. Residents are a part of exciting projects in both basic science and clinical research. This original research consistently leads to publications in well-respected scientific journals.

Cleveland is a wonderful city to live in. The affordability has been a welcome relief from the increasing costs of our economy. Many of our residents, including myself, have been able to become first-time homebuyers. There are also many neighborhoods where you can find inexpensive apartments to rent. Growing up in a small town, I appreciate the friendly atmosphere in Cleveland. The cultural diversity here gives the city a fantastic ethnic flavor as demonstrated in our restaurants. Downtown Cleveland is very accessible and serves as the home of three professional sports teams. If you love the outdoors, you can stay active at one of our many Metro Parks. The House Staff Association is a fantastic organization which provides discounted tickets to sporting events, theater, and the world famous Cleveland Orchestra.

I am proud to have served as Chief Medical Resident during the 2008–2009 academic year and am excited to start my fellowship here in Pulmonary/Critical Care.